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April 26, 2013
Coming out for LGBT rights in outer Mongolia

The founder of Mongolia's first LGBT rights organization, Mongolian LGBT Centre, talks to Gay Star News

Otgonbaatar Tsedendemberel, executive director of Mongolia LGBT Centre talks to Gay Star News about the struggle to get the organization established, achievements and plans for the first ever Mongolian Pride this year.

When did Mongolian LGBT Centre open? How did it come about? 

In 2007, the mandate to register non-governmental organizations (NGOs) belonged to the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs (MoJHA). At the time, MoJHA refused to register LGBT Centre, given the name of the organization was not recognized.

April 26, 2013
Spain grants speedy asylum to Russian gay rights advocate

Russian gay and political activist Alexey Kiselyov was granted a fast-track political asylum in Spain for being thereanted with imprisonment over Moscow protests

Renowned Russian LGBT rights advocate, Aleksei Kiselyov, has reportedly been granted political asylum in Spain.

Moscow based fellow gay rights advocate, Nikolai Alekseyev, reported today (26 April) that Spain granted Kiselyov asylum and a five-year permanent resident permit.

Kiselyov participated in a protest against the reelection of President Vladimir Putin on Moscow's Bolotnaya Square in May 2012 that was violently dispersed by police.

April 15, 2013
Russia’s rail boss says: no gay rights, just shut up

Russian Railways director, Vladimir Yakunin, said gays should shut up as they have only one right - not to be beaten to death with sticks 

The head of Russian Railways, Valdimir Yakunin, said that the civil rights of LGBT people should be limited to ‘public morals’ and ‘common sense’.

He further said that the extent of ‘civil rights’ for gay people should limited so that they are not beaten with sticks to death, reported the portal GayRussia.

Otherwise, the company director called for ban the freedom of expression and family rights for gays and lesbians.

March 26, 2013
Gay activist badly beaten as Russian city bans pride

Syktyvkar's authorities, capital of Russia's republic of Komi, have banned a gay pride march as it ‘promoted homosexuality’, while its organizer was badly beaten

The Syktyvkar city administration, capital of the Russian republic of Komi announced that its banning a planned gay-pride parade.

In a statement released yesterday (25 March) the authorities explained that the ban on pride, which was planned for 31 March, was put in place in response to ‘requests from the city's religious and public organizations not to allow public events promoting homosexual values’.

It also stated that Syktyvkar’s Mayor Ivan Pozdeyev requested that city lawmakers prepare a draft law banning any similar events.

March 20, 2013
Historic Russian court ruling: gay pride is legal

Kostroma regional court made a landmark ruling saying that gay pride events were previously illegally banned by the authorities

Press Secretary of the Kostroma Oblast Court Julia Medvedeva announced the court ruled illegal a ban on gay pride marches in the region and on two rallies against the local law prohibiting propaganda of homosexuality among minors.

‘The Civil Chamber of Kostroma Regional Court granted the appeal of Moscow Pride and events founder Nikolai Alekseev against the decision of Sverdlovsk District Court’, said Medvedeva today (20 March).

December 26, 2012
Moscow City Court refuses to review Pride ban defying Council of Europe

Moscow's highest court refused to review a ban on Pride, defying rulings by the Council of Europe and European Court of Human Rights to lift it

The Presidium of Moscow City Court, the highest court in the city, rejected the appeal of organizers of Gay Pride in Moscow to reconsider the ban against the event by city’s authorities.

Moscow City Court previously dismissed the appeal against a ruling by Tverskoy District Court of Moscow, on 9 July, to uphold the ban on Moscow Pride.

November 25, 2012
UN rules Russian 'gay gag' law violates human rights

UN Human Rights Committee passed a landmark ruling saying a Russian law against ‘homosexual propaganda’ is discriminatory, violates the basic right for freedom of expression and unconstitutional

The United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) found Russia’s application of Ryazan region anti ‘homosexual propaganda’ law against LGBT rights activist Irina Fedotov to be in breach of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on the grounds of freedom of expression and discrimination.

LGBT activists say that this historic landmark ruling will have far reaching effect not only in Russia but worldwide on other countries that legislated, or plan to, laws against ‘homosexual propaganda’ such as Lithuania and the Ukraine.

September 14, 2012
Russia’s top court backs gay events ban

Russian state media hailed the country’s Supreme Court ruling as a blow to discrimination of LGBT people, yet its decision actually strengthens gay events ban

The Supreme Court of Russia has ruled that some LGBT events are not classified as ‘homosexual propaganda’.

The Supreme Court’s ruling, passed this Thursday (13 September), concerned the recent legal ban on ‘gay propaganda’ to minors issued by legislature in North Russia’s Arkhangelsk Region.

Nikolai Alexeyev, an LGBT rights advocate contested the ruling in both the lower courts and the European Court of Human Rights.

July 18, 2012
Russia issues 'gay family' warning to parents of UK summer school kids

Russian activists claim London embassy's warning about risk of children staying with gay families is 'official homophobia in action'

Russia's embassy in London has issued a warning to parents about the risk of their children staying with 'gay families' during their placement at UK summer schools.

After receiving complaints from Russian citizens, the embassy in the British capital released a statement on its website claiming that some children who were studying in the country had experienced 'inappropriate housing conditions' and 'maltreatment', including being denied food, while staying with host families.

May 19, 2012
Moscow bans pride parade as St. Pete sees homophobic attacks

Moscow has refused to sanction a gay pride for the seventh consecutive year, while neo-Nazis attack IDAHO rally participants in St. Petersburg

Moscow under its new mayor has refused to sanction a gay pride in the city for the seventh year in a row.

This comes after several dozen neo-Nazis attacked IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia) rally participants in St. Petersburg on Thursday (17 May).

LGBT activists, however, are unfazed by the growing hostility towards homosexuality in the country and vow to proceed with the parade in Moscow, scheduled for 27 May.

May 4, 2012
Hillary Clinton wins World Pride Award

London honors US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with LGBT award as it hosts World Pride 2012

Pride London and global LGBT organization Kaleidoscope Trust will be honoring US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with the World LGBT Award this July at a gala dinner to celebrate World Pride 2012.

The British capital is hosting World Pride this year, along with the Olympics. Gay Star News is the official news site of the pride festival.

The Dine with Pride cocktail reception and gala dinner on 5 July is set to be a star-studded black tie fundraiser for Pride London.

April 7, 2012
Court throws out first case for St Petersburg gay hate law

Police evidence that two gay activists ‘promoted homosexuality to minors’ was insufficient

The two gay activists arrested in St Petersburg on Thursday (5 April) have been released by a court.

They were the first two people arrested in the Russian city under its new legislation which bans ‘the promotion of homosexuality to minors’ and had faced fines of 5,000 roubles ($172 €125) each and 15 days imprisonment if found guilty.

April 6, 2012
Two arrested under new St Petersburg gay law

First use of new anti-gay ‘propaganda’ legislation in Russian city of St Petersburg

Two gay activists from Moscow Pride were arrested in St Petersburg yesterday (5 April) under the new ‘gay propaganda’ law.

The law, similar to legislation in other Russian states, officially prevents the ‘propaganda of homosexuality to minors’ but campaigners warn it will be used to gag any public discussion of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender issues or events targeted at gay and trans people.

March 20, 2012
Olympic bosses comment on gay games event ban

International Olympic Committee says discrimination is banned but fail to slap down Russian authorities who have outlawed Pride House from the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi

Olympic bosses have backed equality at the 2014 Winter games but avoided criticizing Russian authorities who have banned a gay Pride House from the event.

The first Pride House was held at the Winter Olympics in 2010 in Vancouver, Canada and it set to be repeated at the 2012 games in London this summer.

March 15, 2012
Judge bans Winter Olympics gay Pride House

Russian court rules that Pride House at 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics is ‘extremist’ and could provoke ‘social-religious hatred’

A judge in Russia has backed the ban imposed by the authorities on organising a ‘gay Pride House’ for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.

Plans for the Pride House were formulated by Russian gay activists following the 2010 Games in Vancouver, which featured a very successful Pride House.

But the dreams of repeating the success of Vancouver were scuppered last year when the Russian Ministry of Justice refused the registration of the NGO set-up to organize Pride House.

March 12, 2012
Russia’s Kostroma gay gag law faces challenge

Moscow activist Nikolai Alekseev has traveled to Kostroma to ask for permission to hold a gay march, and spark a legal challenge to their gag law

Russia’s most famous gay activist traveled to the city of Kostroma today (12 March) to challenge the region’s ban on ‘promoting’ homosexuality to minors.

The homophobic Kostroma law was introduced at the end of the last month and its introduction was overshadowed by the passing of a similar law in St Petersburg, which attracted global criticism and protests.

February 29, 2012
St Petersburg votes for gay hate law

Local Russian politicians ignore massive European, US and global pressure to press ahead with gay gag law

St Petersburg politicians have today (29 February) voted in favor of a new law which makes people criminals if they discuss homosexuality in public.

The law prohibiting public discussion of LGBT issues is similar to rules already introduced in the country's Ryazan, Arkhangelsk and Kostroma regions.

Currently, the bill has fines of up to 1 million roubles ($34,400 €25,000) for organisations and up to 5,000 roubles (€172 €125) for individuals.

February 6, 2012
Activists fined in Arkhangelsk for ‘promoting’ homosexuality

Russian gay activists imprisoned and then fined under ‘promotion of homosexuality’ law which they were protesting against

A court in Arkhangelsk has fined three Russian gay activists for ‘the promotion of homosexuality’ following pickets in the city last month protesting against that same new law.

The legislation banning 'Propaganda of Homosexuality to Minors' was passed by the regional parliament at the end of last year. Russian activists say it is not actually about protecting children but about silencing lesbian, gay and bisexual rights demands.

January 29, 2012
Aeroflot forces gay flight attendant to marry woman

Activists call for boycott of Russian airline after LGBT staff rights activist Maxim Kupreev forced to wed

Gay activists in Russia are planning to ask air passengers to boycott Aeroflot, Russia’s leading airline and not to use its services until the creation of equal conditions for all workers.

The call comes following the revelation that gay flight attendant Maxim Kupreev was forced by his employers to enter into heterosexual marriage with his former high school girlfriend following his announcement last year to create an LGBT group within the company to fight for the protection of the rights of homosexual employees.

January 13, 2012
Russian gay activists due in court after picketing children's library

Three activists arrested for solitary protests are due in court next week.

Three Russian gay activists are due to appear in court next Friday after being arrested in Siberia's Arkangelsk city on Wednesday.

Nikolay Alekseev, Alexey Kiselev and Kirill Nepomnyaschiy were arrested when they mounted individual pickets in defiance of the 'Propaganda of Homosexuality to Minors' law passed last month by the regional parliament.

January 11, 2012
Gay activists arrested in Russia under 'homosexual propaganda' law

Three gay activists have been arrested in Russia after unfurling 20m rainbow flag and picketing library.

Three Russian gay activists were arrested today in the northern city of  Arkhangelsk.

Nikolay Alekseev, Alexey Kiselev and Kirill Nepomnyaschiy were arrested under the 'homosexual propoganda' law while conducting 'solitary' pickets next to a children's library.

The trio have now been charged and bailed.

December 30, 2011
Pro-Democracy Russian movement rejects LGBT activists

Lesbian and gay protestors rejected, ejected, censored and even attacked at Pro-Democracy rallies in Russia

LGBT political activists in Russia are reporting abuse and attacks at Pro-Democracy rallies across the country.

On Christmas Eve tens of thousands of protesters braved the sub zero temperatures across Russia to protest against the alleged election fraud, corruption and to demand more freedom and democracy.

December 29, 2011
Russian region places children ban on LGBT events

Law in Kostroma region bans anything which exposes children to gay issues or events

New legislation has been passed banning the distribution of information on LGBT issues to children in an area of Russia.

An amendment to a statute called ‘On guaranteeing the rights of children’ has gone through the regional legislature of Kostroma in the ‘Golden Ring’ of Western Russia.

The website GayRussia has reported that this amendment makes it an offence to organise public LGBT events to which minors could be exposed.

It also means that it is prohibited to educate children about LGBT issues.